Day Trips from Calgary

Today I’m writing about day trips from Calgary.

As much as I complain about the cold, snowy, and long winters here in Calgary, I feel like it’s balanced out with how close it is to the Rocky Mountains. In about an hour I can be surrounded by beautiful gorgeous forests, lakes, and of course mountains. With all that gorgeous scenery comes all kinds of outdoor activities to enjoy – from hiking to snowboarding to camping. So I thought I’d write a blog post about all of the day trips you can take from Calgary. Whether you live here or are just visiting, you’ll be able to find a scenic spot to enjoy.

Banff

There’s a reason why Banff is first on my list of day trips. Banff is beautiful small town in the Canadian Rockies. People travel from all over the world to visit, so I’m very grateful that I live close enough to go visit for a day. The drive there from Calgary is just under an hour and a half. If you plan to stop inside the national park, you’ll have to buy a park pass. If you drive right through without stopping no pass is needed.

Even if hiking, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, or canoeing aren’t your things, there’s still plenty to do in town. There’s lots of restaurants to eat at and stores to go shopping at. There’s even a couple candy stores that I always end up at.

Bragg Creek

If you’re looking for a spot that’s a lot more quiet than Banff (Banff can be super busy, even in the off season), Bragg Creek is your place to check out. It has a lot of the scenery that Banff has with a lot less people. There’s lots of hiking spots and other outdoor activities to do – and it’s less than an hour away from Calgary.

Kananaskis

If I’m craving a hike in the mountains, Kananaskis is my first choice of destinations. It’s closer than Lake Louise, Banff, or Canmore, but the scenery is just as beautiful. Once again, because Kananaskis is a Provincial Park, if you stop in Kananaskis, you’ll have to buy a park pass. I’ve probably spent more time hiking and camping in Kananaskis than I have in Banff National Park. At about an hour to get to Kananaskis, it’s a very doable day trip from Calgary.

Waiparous

I’m ashamed to admit that I only really discovered Waiparous a few years ago. I volunteer with Girl Guides, and it wasn’t until I went to Girl Guide camp in Waiparous that I realized how beautiful it is out there.

There’s a ton of hiking and other outdoor adventures out there, in addition to camping. One thing I want to share though is that there’s always more snow out there than in Calgary. That also means that the snow stays in the ground in the fall before it does in Calgary and after the snow has melted in the spring. So be aware if you’re heading out there on the shoulder seasons, that it may be snowy.

The highway out to Waiparous is pretty twisty, which means you have to pay attention and go slower. I’ve also come across more wildlife on the highway out there than I have anywhere else, so be sure to pay attention while driving – even more so at night.

Lake Louise

Clocking in at just under 2 hours to get there, Lake Louise is well worth the drive. A few years ago the national park implemented a new parking strategy, which requires taking a shuttle up to the lake from the townsite. Make sure you have a plan before you get there! Once again, stopping in Lake Louise will require purchasing a park pass since it’s in the National Park.

Despite the inconvenience, Lake Louise is so worth it. The lake is beautiful. There’s a flat paved trail along part of the lake if hiking isn’t your thing. The hiking trails are incredible. Get something to eat at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise post-hike.

Canmore

Since Canmore is right outside of Banff National Park, you don’t need to purchase a park pass. In addition, I find it’s less busy than Banff, but that doesn’t mean that it’s quiet. I’ve found the last few summers especially Canmore has gotten busier. Because Canmore is so close to Banff, you still get all of the mountain scenery. If you’re an outdoorsy person there’s lots of outdoor recreation opportunities, from hiking to camping.

Drumheller

I haven’t been to Drumheller since I went on a school field trip in junior high, but I remember thinking how cool it was to be able to walk where dinosaurs once walked thousands of years ago. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a must visit to learn all about the dinosaurs. But if you’d rather spend time outside, there are a bunch of great hiking trails in Drumheller too. The Drumheller hoodoos are beautiful in a rugged kind of way and almost other worldly.

Looking for more things to do in Calgary? Check out my posts on local hiking trails, favorite restaurants, and cozy coffee shops to explore in the city.